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  • A LAB Update: September 2011
  • Dec 2010/The LAB'S Local (and hopefully Lucrative) Holiday Love-Fest!
  • Generosity & Gratitude – May 2010
  • Project & Mentorship Spotlight – Feb 2010
  • The Lab E-Newsletter: Back to School/Fall 2010
  • The Lab: November 2010/Thank you to Community Supporters
  • The Lab: Off to the races for 2nd Session! (January 30, 2011)

Here at The LAB we recently welcomed back all of our incredible students here at Journeys Secondary School. Please enjoy this original recording from some of our students and may it encourage you on your own journey in this new year! Click here!

Hello Friends! The Lab is thrilled to unveil our new video spotlight called “This week at The LAB” Come back often to see what new creative and exciting things are taking place. Enjoy!

 

There will be a suggested donation $15 at the door.  Doors will open at 6:30 pm.

This event is sponsored by the School of Social Work at St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas.

Note: St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) is located at: 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN  55105.
Find St. Kate’s (and directions to the campus, Jeanne d’Arc Auditorium & get parking information by calling:
651-690-6000 or visiting St. Catherine University online at: www.stkate.edu

 

As you know, The LAB is a special education program of St. Paul Schools.

The LAB is an Arts & Wellness-based program serving youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD).

and we have Big News….We are readying ourselves for a change!

In September, we will be moving from our location at Homecroft school to a new space.  We will be changing our service delivery model from a field trip destination, to becoming embedded in a new school (not yet with an official name).  The LAB will become part of this school that will serve about 75 students grades 7 – 12th grade, all with behavioral challenges.  It will be located at what is currently St. Paul Open School at 90 S. Western Avenue down near United Hospital.

This will be a tall order for us, to change our service delivery model.  We are confident we have a lot to offer this new setting, not the least of which is that we count on a force of compassionate & skillful mentors who can support the success for our students, in school and in life.   We Need YOU!

We are hosting an information session for interested volunteers/guest artists on Monday, June 13th from 6pm – 7:30 pm at Homecroft (1845 Sheridan Avenue, St. Paul).

We are hoping to grow and diversify our volunteer and guest artist force.
We are striving to significantly increase our volunteer base with people who have diverse backgrounds, life experiences, skills and talents.

We hope you will join us in this important work and transition.

Please spread the word to people you think might be interested in making a difference in the lives of these youth.

This year something special has been brewing at The Lab.  Tucked away where most people wouldn’t look, a new musical groove has been forming.  Students paired up with mentors to explore piano, guitar, drums, and electronic music production, covering all sorts of genres, and finding a place to practice confidence, patience, creative expression, and a healthy one-on-one relationship.

Robert is one of the Lab’s musical All-Stars.  He learned skills on piano, drum set, and GarageBand (a music production software), and recently released his first solo album, Outer Space.  (Click here for a sample song from the album: 02 Rocket Boy.)

Robert takes inspiration from Prince, George Clinton, Jimi Hendrix, ACDC and others and now considers himself among the ranks of these “great rockers.”  Through his music mentorship, Robert got deeply creative, and demonstrated what it means to focus oneself entirely to the task at hand.  His album is an example to all aspiring artists of how beautiful it is to be genuine, and to put your story and your rhythms out into the world.  Thanks Robert.

“This is the story of a Rocket Boy. He says he one day will fly in space. He says he’s not playing around with his dreams, so he’s one step away.”

The LAB is overjoyed to invite all of our supporters to a very special event. On May 11th, from 2-3PM, The Black Dog Coffee Bar and Gallery at 308 Prince Street in St. Paul will proudly display works of art produced by a group of students from Washington Technology Magnet School who call themselves the Cre8tive (Creative 8). The work explores ideas of identity and community as well as motifs inspired by Kara Walker, Abstract Expressionism, Barbra Kruger, and the work of Tim Rollins + K.O.S. Special musical guests include The LAB’s very own Glo Pesci as well as spoken word poet Desdamona and Hip-Hop artist Carnage. Please come and show your support at this very special event. Hope to see you there!

For the past seven weeks I’ve had the distinct privilege to work with 6 young artists from Washington Jr. High who are determined to succeed. One of the themes we discuss as a group is identity. I showed students the work of Kara Walker; an artist living and working in New York whose work investigates historical stereotypes and relationships between blacks and whites in the United States. She elegantly crafts these explorations with the simple and yet highly potent medium of inky black silhouettes.  After learning about Walker and her work I had the students begin by writing poems about who they are and how people see them. After we finished writing we created paper silhouettes of each other by tracing our shadows. Please enjoy the images and words some of these students came up with.

 

People see me as “Z”

But I see me

as what I want to be.

 

I can be a spy

or a dancer

or a football player

or a king

 

But for now I’m a Kid.

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